Indifferent parents--us.(provincial government's duty in foster care)

"A small child you carry on your arm and a grown one you carry on your head," so says a Yiddish folk saying. These words remind us that most parents keep their children in mind long after their offspring have passed the legally mandated age of parental responsibility. Certainly, this is true except for the most indifferent of parents and the most indifferent of all parents appears to be our provincial governments that fail the young people in the foster care system.

As young adult children make their way in the world, concerned and sensitive parents try to help them as much as possible without compromising their offspring's sense of autonomy. Because of this, most young adults in Canada have a continuing connection with their parents well into their adult lives.

At the very least, young adults find emotional support, encouragement and mentoring from their parents. In difficult situations, parents provide a shoulder to cry on. It is what even the poorest parent can afford to do.

Material assistance by parents is often offered in many situations. This is reflected in statistics that show that almost half of all persons in their 20's still reside in the parental home, either permanently or temporarily. Where problems arise, many parents help out financially with loans or gifts to help tide young people through stormy times.

Most students in colleges and universities, however hard they work at part-time jobs, receive some material assistance from their parents. When young adults run into trouble with the law or they become parents at an early age, most have a parent to offer a helping hand, that is if they are not indifferent parents.

Provincial governments are in loco parentis for more than 76,000 children (Child Welfare League of Canada estimates) who are Crown wards. These children come into their care because the parents have abused, or neglected them or are unable to care for them because of ill health, disability or death. They are cared for in foster homes, group homes or in other arrangements. A sizable bureaucracy of social workers, lawyers, health personnel, and other staff is empowered to look after their needs.

The provinces are supposed to see to the health and well being of their charges but ...